UFO #1 (Feb.) - DONE

First February quilt

 This was my first quilt with the paperdoll fabric.  I used 2.5-inch squares from my scraps container for the sashing and appliqued all edges with a machine blanket stitch.  Then, just because, I used decorative stitches on each piece.  I have one "block" that is slightly smaller that I plan to make into a pillow, but will wait until I quilt this as I have 2 backing fabrics pulled from my stash and am not sure which one I want to use.

Too many leftover paperdolls/clothes--second February quilt

Second "envelope" almost done--will be buttoned to back of quilt

Well, I had too much fabric left, so I decided to make another quilt.  This one is larger, about 70x90.  The pinks don't show up well in the picture--they're much prettier than they look.  I don't usually work from the center out, but I did on this quilt because I was working from a picture I had downloaded from the internet.  It went together easily--and I used more clothes!  I decided to make a coordinating "envelope" pillow to attach to the back of the quilt so I could slip a couple of dolls with their clothes inside for the granddaughters.  Unfortunately, the dolls were larger than the envelope--so it became a separate pillow instead!  It is ready for the pillow form to be slipped inside.  Another quilt in the longarm UFO stack!

And then I decided I would make a larger envelope which I will button on the back of the second quilt--large enough for 2 dolls with clothing!  It's almost done.  You can see the color of the pinks better here--the printed pink is the backing for the quilt.  I have only 2 dolls that had multiple pieces of clothing that "fit" without showing part of the doll underneath on the sides or bottoms.  I still have to fuse the dolls to felt and then decide how to get the clothing to stay on the doll--waiting for a trip to a fabric store in the nearest big town.

So, on to the next UFO Challenge!  I'm glad to have finally used the paperdoll fabric. 

STASH REPORT - Week 8, 2012

Used this Week: 30 2/3 yards 
Used year to Date: 50 1/6 yards 
Added this Week: 0 yards 
Added Year to Date: 4 yards 
Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  46 1/6 yards

Oh, how good it feels!  This was a productive week.  Our ladies' church group had a Valentine's Day luncheon on Tuesday and suggested everyone bring something that could be used by the local Turning Point program.  So, on Monday I dug through my assortment of flannel (does flannel count?!) and made 5 large-sized receiving blankets.  A definite plus on that project was learning to use the hemmer foot for my sewing machine--some of those specialty feet have never been used by Yours Truly!  What a neat hem--and I got lots of practice in using it.  As an aside, when I lived in a larger Wyoming town (where none of our towns are very large!), I took some "feet" classes with Dee.  What a wonderful way to get to use those specialty feet.  And Dee was so knowledgable--she was a Bernina Girl but could help with all the different brands of machines that were used in the class.  Anyway, love the hemmer foot!

The luncheon was wonderful--quiche, salads, and sundaes--and it was good to migrate north from my little hamlet and mingle with friends.  Sharon did the luncheon--what a talented lady!  Have you ever met someone who could make a silk purse out of a sow's ear?  Well, she definitely can and does!  She used a footed glass candle holder, lined with red (of course, Valentine's Day!) napkins, as the container for baguette rounds--what a lovely addition to the table!  I will remember that for my next gathering--and will use the brandy snifter with whatever napkins go with the occasion!  And Turning Point received many items for the babies.  Anyway, that was so much "fun" that I decided I would use the remaining flannel and some plisse fabric to make more receiving blankets--which I understand are now called swaddling blankets--showing my age here!  I have 13 more ready to donate.  Really helped reduce that stash.  As did the 6 yards gifted to my sister (double knit fabric that she uses for quilts for the grands).

I was really on a roll so I mended DH's Carhartts and shortened the sleeves on a denim jacket for myself.  And sorted out my yarn stash while looking for some crochet booklets I couldn't find--and then organized my cross-stitch stash, as well.  (Both of those stashes have their own 2012 UFO lists!)  Which made me think I really should go through my sewing/quilting items and sort out those that I won't use again--hmmmm.  Wonder what I can accomplish this week?!   

STASH REPORT - Week 7, 2012

Used this Week: 8 yards 
Used year to Date: 19.5 yards 
Added this Week: 2 yards 
Added Year to Date: 4 yards 
Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  15.5 yards

Will I ever quit "adding" to the stash?!  I couldn't resist--I "found" (in the Stash, of course) the beautiful pumpkin print on a black background which I want to use for a table runner and didn't have enough of a complimentary gold/bronze to use for the back.  So, off to The Cottage to find complimentary fabric.  That's my story anyway!  This week I finished February UFO#1, and it went into the Longarm stack.  I had quite a few paperdolls left and lots of clothes--so, why not make another paperdoll quilt using a different pattern?!  Made sense at the time, so I jumped right in and started.  The top is together (about 60x70) and I'm using my machine's blanket stitch to applique down the dolls and clothes--and now wondering why I thought it was a good idea!  Maybe I'll have the machine applique done in 2-3 days. 

Which brings me to a complaint about fabric designers.  Why don't they make sure (in this instance) that the clothes fit the paperdolls?  I could only find 2 of the dolls that could "wear" more than one of the dresses--lots of the clothes didn't fit any of the dolls without having an extra arm showing or a slip showing--or facing the wrong direction altogether!  So, I will only have 2 dolls to slip into a fabric envelope on the back of one of the quilts with enough clothing to entertain some little girl.  Oh, well, at least I have 2!  A special thank you to Carrie for ideas on how to adhere the clothing to the dolls.

Good Day for Sewing

It was quite cold today--which made it a great day for sewing.  With a determination not to wait until the last minute to start working on February's UFO, I went downstairs this morning and worked on UFO#1.  I got the 9 paperdoll blocks appliqued and embellished with several of the heirloom & quilting stitches on my DD.  The blocks are all pressed and ready to be squared--maybe tomorrow.  Now I need to decide what kind of sashing I want to use.  I would like to make the quilt at least 70x85--that will be a stretch with only 9 blocks with a finished size of 10 inches each.  I'll think about it this evening, and maybe I'll be ready to work on it again tomorrow. 

Mountain Goats

 

I love our mountain goats!  They range from 1-7 miles north of our small town, and come down to forage in the winter months.  You can always tell when they are in sight as vehicles are pulled off to the side of the highway and huge camera lens are in view!  Sometimes it seems like they are "people watching" as they are not bothered by us.

STASH REPORT - Week 6, 2012

Used this Week: 7.5 yards
Used year to Date: 11.5 yards
Added this Week: 2 yards
Added Year to Date: 2 yards
Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  9.5 yards

 

Well, I made some progress on the stash--those backings make a big dent.  UFO#5 is done and shifted to the longarm UFO stack.  And I didn't buy anything new to finish #5!  I also used most of my blue/silver metallic stash!!

 

I bought some really cute Christmas fabric--Christmas fabric is my downfall!--with the idea that I will either use it for a table runner or for pillowcases for the 2 granddaughters for Christmas 2012.  I'm still trying to decide.  I gave a friend a lot of my Christmas-themed fabric last fall, and she made beautiful table runners and sets of placemats for our JCCW Christmas bazaar.  I got 2 of them--and still have one on my table as it is so cute.  Or I could use it for Christmas aprons for the GDs.

 

I did get started on February UFO #1, but just barely.  This week should see progress on that.  But today it is time to watch the SuperBowl with good friends--good company, good food, good time!

UFO #5 (Jan.) - DONE

January UFO#5 is done!!  Well, sort of!  I finished the quilt top on January 30--but am just now working on the backing and binding, which I do as I finish a quilt (and will finish today).  The outside white border is 6.5 inches, as I plan to do swags and piano keys in it--but looks wide in the picture.  The fabrics are all Christmas blues with silver metallic, and the center motif is appliqued.  I'm so glad to finish this; the book I took the center motif from is an old one.  I did the center motif (actually, I did 2--the other is in Christmas reds with gold metallic) about a year and a half ago, so it is time to have it shifted to the longarm UFO list.

And now on to the February #1 UFO.  I won't procrastinate quite so long in getting it started--might even start on it today!  Not sure how to get the picture on JudyL's UFO page--I may be asking for help!

Yea, it worked!  JudyL certainly has her ducks in a row and makes it easy for us!